ELIA
Elia woke in the earliest dawn light. The cavernous room was dark, and to her human eyes it would have seemed the deepest night. But her new senses could pick out the rising light seeping out from behind the edges of the curtains.
She sat up for a moment, holding her breath. She could smell Reth on her skin, and for a split second, her heart leapt, believing he was there.
Then she realized where she was... where she had been... and she remembered what Reth had said.
"…I would not choose to leave you and Elreth if there was any option open to me. Know that. Be certain of that. But hear me: If I am ended tomorrow, keep watch. Because the Creator has some good to come out of it…"
It hit her like a sucker punch, stealing her breath. Her heart began to race, thrumming in her ears, and her skin throbbed with her pulse.
If I am ended tomorrow…
If I am ended… today.
